Residence Community Living Standards

• To create a safe, secure, responsible and respectful community by outlining the positive standards of behaviour expected within the residence community and holding Residents and their Guests accountable for behaviour that violates these standards and encouraging Residents to resolve their community living issues in a mature fashion.
• To create an environment conducive to academic success by promoting behaviour among Residents and their Guests that creates an effective learning environment.
• To create an environment conducive to personal growth and development by educating Residents about the effect that their choices may have on themselves and others around them and providing Residents with an opportunity to learn from their behaviour.
• To create a fair environment by following the Principles of Natural Justice and Procedural Fairness and clearly defining the standards and processes that Residents, Guests and Staff are expected to follow.

Residence policies and procedures are set guidelines for students that live in residence on Niagara College’s campus. These are detailed in the Student Residence Agreement, the residence website, and the RCLS. Niagara College practices are related to an individual’s status as a student of Niagara College and their behaviour on campus, which includes residence. Therefore, as a residence student your actions in residence can also affect your status with the College.

Municipal, Provincial and Federal laws and by-laws are related to you being a citizen in the city, province and country. The standards outlined by Residence and Niagara College are informed by these laws. Residence and Niagara College Staff aim to ensure that all of these standards of behaviour are respected and maintained.

Normally the Residence policies and procedures and Niagara College’s policies and procedures act independently of one another. However, Residence shares all reports alleging RCLS violations with Niagara College. In situations that create a concern for the safety and security of students in residence and on campus, all important information will be shared between appropriate Residence and Niagara College officials. In serious cases, allegation(s) may be investigated by both the Residence and Niagara College and the student will be subject to the sanctions under both sets of policies and procedures.

For more information about Residence and Niagara College practices please refer to the Niagara College Practices website, niagaracollege.ca/practices, for details about:

• Student Rights and Responsibilities
• Student Discipline Associated with Disruptive Behaviour

Scope & Application

The RCLS apply to all Residents and their Guests. They are in effect:

1. 1. on Residence property, including in all Residence buildings and the grounds of the Residence;
   2. at off-campus events sponsored by Residence or a recognized student leadership group in residence;
   3. when the conduct of a Resident has a substantial link to Niagara College, direct implications for the proper functioning of Residence; the well-being of Residents; the educational mission of Niagara College; or the interests or reputation of Residence and/or Niagara College. This includes any behaviour observed or carried out through an online medium, by using text, audio, video or images, including but not limited to Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter will be treated as an Offense detailed within these standards.

Authority

The RCLS is intended to be clear to all readers. If you have a question, consult a Residence Staff member, as they have the authority to interpret the Standards.

The RCLS attempts to identify a range of behaviours that constitute Offenses. Residence reserves the right, in extraordinary circumstances, to identify and sanction conduct that may not be specifically described, but which clearly does not support the stated Objectives of the RCLS or Niagara College Practices.

Protection of Privacy

Residence respects the privacy and personal information of residence students and will comply with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act regarding the gathering, retention, safeguarding and disposal of personal information. All concerning behaviours and allegations of offenses documented in Residence Reports will be made available to the Resident, Campus Security and the Office of the Director of Student Services as guided by legislation, upon request. All Residence reports, files and records, both paper-based and electronic, will be kept for a minimum of seven (7) years after the termination of the Student Residence Agreement.

You are a citizen of the residence community and a student of Niagara College. You therefore have certain rights and responsibilities. Your privileges are yours to maintain by respecting the rules of Residence and Niagara College. Rights should NOT be confused with Privileges. As a good citizen of our Residence Community, you acknowledge in a responsible way your rights, responsibilities and privileges as well as the rights, responsibilities and privileges of others. We hope that you participate in the community in a positive way and you do your part to create and maintain an environment that encourages academic success and social growth.

Residents’ Rights

Within the Residence Community you, as a Resident, have the right to:

1. enjoy the rights and freedoms recognized by law, subject only to restrictions that ensure the welfare and advancement of the Residence Community, as detailed in the RCLS,
2. be free from discrimination, on the basis of race, ancestry, religious beliefs, physical ability, marital status, colour, place of origin, gender, mental disability, family status, source of income, age or sexual orientation,
3. enjoy an atmosphere intended to remain free from behaviour which is reasonably interpreted as unwelcome; including (but not limited to) remarks, jokes, or actions which demean another person and/or deny individuals their dignity and respect,
4. study, work, read and sleep in your unit/suite/room without undue interference from roommates or others,
5. occupy your assigned unit/suite/room and use its furniture, effects and services,
6. access to your assigned room/unit,
7. expect that unit/suite/roommates will respect your personal property,
8. expect reasonable cooperation from others when you are sharing common rooms/facilities,
9. live in a clean environment, requiring a joint and equitable effort from you and your unit/suite/roommates,
10. reasonable privacy from unit/suite/roommates or others,
11. have your concerns considered by Residence Staff,
12. have all reported offenses investigated in a reasonable amount of time and efficient manner,
13. expect confidentiality from Residence Staff with regards to all personal and student conduct related information.

Residents’ Responsibilities

With your rights come corresponding expectations of behaviour within the Residence Community. As a Resident you have the responsibility to:

1. read, understand and abide by Niagara College Calendar, codes, practices and regulations, guidelines and processes, including the Student Residence Agreement, the residence website, and the RCLS,
2. recognize the authority of all Residence and Niagara Staff acting in the scope of their position and to be responsive and cooperative in all dealings with them,
3. treat with respect, civility, courtesy and consideration all Residents, Residence Staff and Niagara College Officials and conduct yourself in a way that permits them to be successful academically and/or perform their duties,
4. take all actions associated with good citizenship, including reporting violations of Residence and Niagara College Practices, and taking all reasonable measures to ensure the safety and security of the Residence Community,
5. seek help or resources to protect and ensure your personal health, safety and wellbeing, including addressing issues of self-harm which have the potential to occur by action or neglect, including self-abuse, eating disorders, suicide attempts, underage drinking, alcohol abuse or negligence related to health, hygiene or medications,
6. attempt to resolve unit/suite/room/community problems on your own before you ask your RA to assist you in this process,
7. conduct yourself and contribute in a positive and productive way to the Residence Community through active participation,
8. respect the rights, privileges and privacy of your unit/suite/roommates, work with them cooperatively to keep your unit in a clean and tidy condition,
9. respect the rights, privileges and property of all other Residents and their Guests, and of the neighbouring community,
10. take full responsibility for the conduct of Guests, accompany them at all times within the Residence Complex and ensure that Guests are aware of, and abide by, Residence and Niagara College practices,
11. conduct yourself in a way that ensures the Residence facilities and grounds are kept in good condition, including keeping your assigned room and suite common areas in a clean and sanitary condition,
12. secure your personal property and obtain personal contents insurance,
13. permit Residence or Niagara College Staff or its officers entry when there is a reasonable apprehension of danger or harm, or for the purpose of inspecting the condition of the unit/suite/room and its contents,
14. be solely liable to Niagara College for any loss or damage to your room, its furniture and effects; as well as liable for loss or damage to the public facilities, furniture and equipment of the Residence, including Common Areas; and liable for any damages caused by Guests,
15. actively check your mail, voicemail, and email accounts registered with the residence on a regular basis for messages from Residence Staff,
16. carry your Niagara College ID and show it when requested by Residence or Niagara College Staff.

Residents’ Privileges

Privileges enhance the lifestyle in Residence because they add to the pleasure of the academic and social experience. Privileges are granted to Residents upon arrival, based on the principle that Residents are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the RCLS. There is an important difference between Rights and Privileges. You can expect your Rights to be respected all the time, and you can maintain Privileges with behaviour in accordance with our RCLS. Privileges can be taken away through the judicial process if conduct does not comply with our RCLS.

It is a privilege for you to:

1. live in Residence,
2. use the Common Areas and Facilities and their furniture, equipment, effects and services,
3. have unit/suite/room assignments to live with your friends,
4. to live in Residence in future years,
5. consume alcohol within your assigned unit/suite/room or as a guest in another resident’s unit/suite/room, and only if you are of the legal drinking age,
6. use approved sound broadcast equipment, musical instruments, computer speakers, or subwoofers,
7. invite and host Guests in Residence,
8. be a Guest in areas outside your assigned room/unit/building and/or enjoy access to the Residence Complex, outside your assigned room/unit/building,
9. participate in events and activities facilitated or sanctioned by Residence.

Click here to review Violations and Sanctions:

• The Point System
• Offenses, Sanctions
• Primary and Secondary Contacts

Click here for important information regarding Judicial Procedures, including:

• Principles of Natural Justice and Procedural Fairness
• Standard of Proof
• Incident Reports and Judicial Meetings
• Residence Emergency Procedures
• Appeal Procedures & Process
• Eviction Procedures & Process